Mooresville, IN

In 1823, a Quaker from North Carolina purchased some land in Indiana. His name was Samuel Moore. In 1824, Moore laid out the town and named it for himself. With White Lick Creek on either side of the delta, the soil in Mooresville was ideal for farming. Moore didn't sell the lots -- he gave them to those he felt deserved them. By 1831, the new town had about 200 citizens.

One of the residents, Paul Hadley, was a famous artist who designed the Indiana State Flag in the early 1900s. For that reason, Mooresville's slogan is "Home of the State Flag." The flag he designed has remained unchanged -- a gold torch surrounded by stars. The star above the torch, the 19th star, is larger than the rest to signify the fact that Indiana was the 19th state admitted to the Union.

The Mooresville Veteran's Memorial dates back to 1948. It was built to honor Mooresville veterans who served during WWI and WWII. It also recognizes a Vietnam hero who received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1967. That hero was a graduate of Mooresville High School -- Sammy Davis. The movie Forrest Gump was based on his military service.

The local history museum is housed in the Mooresville Friends Academy Building, one of the first high schools built in the state. Dating back to 1861, this school is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From sidewalk cafes to bakeries to locally-owned restaurants, you'll find everything you want in Mooresville. One must-try is Zydeco's -- it is located downtown along Main Street. You’ll know it when you see it -- moss covers most of the historic, brick building. While it might seem odd to find a true Cajun restaurant in the heart of the Midwest, Zydeco's will become your go-to spot after moving to an apartment in Mooresville. Try the Barrone Street Shrimp, the Marque Choux, and the Blackened Filet Bearnaise. Don’t miss out on the seasonal crawfish boils, held from late spring to early summer.

Ralph and Ava’s Cafe is another downtown treat -- this restaurant has the prerequisite striped awnings and a funky sidewalk seating area. Try one of the uniquely named sandwiches, such as the Barn Yard or the Italian Job. After dinner, the cafe is the place to be -- join them for live trivia on Thursday nights, open mic on Friday nights, and live music most Saturday nights.

When you're in the mood for barbecue, there's one place in Mooresville you'll want to try -- Squealers Barbeque Grill. Go for the award-winning baby back ribs (you're welcome). If you have room for dessert, the Squealers Kookie Monster will be the perfect end to your meal. Squealers was named Grand Champion at the Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off in Munfordville, Kentucky in 2014. In 2015, they were invited to the largest barbecue competition in the world, the American Royal Invitational.

Downtown Mooresville is very pedestrian-friendly. If you choose to rent your apartment near downtown you might not need your car often -- but you’ll still need it. Mooresville is a car-dependent area, especially if you want to commute into nearby Indianapolis.

Highway 67 passes right through Mooresville and leads to Indianapolis, while I-70 is just north of town. The Indianapolis International Airport is roughly 10 miles from Mooresville.

Pioneer Park has it all -- 150 acres with picnic areas, playgrounds, soccer fields and baseball diamonds, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe courts, and a paved trail for walking and jogging. This park is also home to the Family Aquatic Center and the Soaring Eagle Zip Line Ride, and it hosts a variety of Mooresville's events and festivals. The oldest park in Mooresville, Old Town Park, was created in 1877. This park is roughly seven acres and includes a picnic shelter and a playground. Hadley Memorial Park honors state flag designer Paul Hadley. This 1,200-acre park is located downtown and includes a memorial.

A one-bedroom apartment in Mooresville will cost somewhere around $895. If you decide you love the peaceful neighborhoods and adorable downtown too much to leave, buying a home in Mooresville is very affordable, with the average home price around $220,000.

Downtown Mooresville provides a variety of antique shops, boutiques, and gift stores to explore. This is a beautiful shopping district, filled with historic architecture and period lighting. The Mooresville Commercial Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Village Shopping Center contains some popular chains, such as Family Dollar and Ace Hardware. There's also a Kroger grocery store in this plaza. Southbridge Crossing is another strip mall with stores, businesses, restaurants, and a movie theater.

With Downtown Indianapolis just 10 miles away, you'll be able to explore the fantastic Wholesale District. This area contains Circle Centre Mall, a huge indoor shopping mall with four floors. The Indianapolis City Market is another great destination, containing the Original Farmers' Market. This market sells locally-produced items, including produce, meats, cheeses, spices and herbs, and baked goods. The City Market is a multi-level indoor market with a wide selection of merchants.